Ryan Malone In Front of the Net
By Bob Grove

Making a living in front of the opponents' net is hardly a novel approach to becoming an impact forward. That's what Phil Esposito did when the Boston Bruins were winning Stanley Cups in the early 1970s, and today that's where you routinely find Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom, Colorado's Ryan Smyth and Philadelphia's Mike Knuble - just to name a few.

But that's not to say it's an easy proposition. It means fighting your way through checkers and defensemen, and it means putting up with the abuse that comes with the territory.

The Penguins' Ryan Malone would know.

"It's not as bad as it used to be with the new rules, the cross-checks and the slashes," says the 28-year-old left wing, "but you are going to end up with a couple of bruises here and there. It's all worth it if you get one in off your shin pad or help any way you can."

Malone's drive to be a force in front of the net, part and parcel of a power forward's resume, has been a major factor in putting together his best NHL season and figures to be an important piece of the Penguins' game plan for playoff success beginning this month.

Malone had a career-high 25 goals and 48 points heading into the regular-season's final two weeks, and his ability and willingness to drive to the net has been central to his offensive performance. He's been a perfect fit playing on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora, and his gritty play in front has been a major factor in the Penguins' second-half surge on the power play.

"I think I'm doing it a little more," he said. "I was used differently my first couple years, when I was on the boards on the power play, and last year I wasn't on the power play at all. Now they're giving me a chance to get out there and use my size in front of the net, and I don't mind doing that."

Malone's effectiveness in front is not just a function of his size. The 6-4, 224-pound Pittsburgh native needs his size and strength to frustrate opponents, but his quick hands are also critical to his ability to convert rebounds and deflect shots.

"Mostly I just try to get in the way of the goalie's view of the puck," Malone said. "Sometimes the defensemen will try to get in front of me to block the shot, so my job there, when I see (Sergei) Gonchar get it, is to make sure I front their defensemen so the puck can get through to the net. Then usually me and Sykora are around the net for the garbage."

The full range of Malone's effectiveness was on display during Pittsburgh's 7-1 wrecking of the New Jersey Devils at home March 22, a game which put the Penguins in the driver's seat for the Atlantic Division crown. He converted a Pascal Dupuis shot for a short-handed goal in the second period to give Pittsburgh the lead, then tipped in a Gonchar shot on the power play early in the third period.

Malone has become a very good penalty killer in recent seasons, but his performance in front of the net figures to be the most important asset he brings to the Penguins in the playoffs, when pretty goals are few and far between.